The Brand New Raspberry Pi 5 is Here- Let’s See What is New in Raspberry Pi 5

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced the release of the Raspberry Pi 5 on 28th September 2023, the latest model in their line of single-board computers. In this post, we’ll take an in-depth first look at the key new features of the Raspberry Pi 5 based on the product brief released by Raspberry Pi.

The Raspberry Pi 5 is expected to be available for purchase starting in late October 2023. Pre-orders are already open at some retailers like Adafruit, SparkFun, Micro Center, and more. The 4GB variant is priced at $60 while the 8GB version costs $80 before taxes.

Creator: Raspberry Pi Foundation

Throughout this post, we’ll explore all the new capabilities and upgrades introduced in the Raspberry Pi 5 over prior generations. We’ll compare the Pi 5 to the popular Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and see exactly what’s changed and improved. Let’s dive in!

Prerequisites readers should ideally have:

In summary, total beginners may need introductions to above concepts first to fully understand all aspects of the article and the significance of each upgrade in the Raspberry Pi 5. But the post serves as an engaging overview even for more casual readers. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Unboxing the Raspberry Pi 5

First, let’s go through the unboxing and see what you get inside the box when you order an RPi 5:

The model I have is the 8GB LPDDR4 RAM variant. There is also a cheaper 4GB RAM model available.

In terms of size and form factor, the Pi 5 retains the same dimensions as older Pi models at 85 x 56 mm. However, with a miner displacement of the internal components. So, it’s sad to say, the Pi 4 case doesn’t go with Pi 5.

The major changes are all internal. But even before we get into the specs, just holding the Pi 5, you can feel that this i

A Short Introduction to The Brand New Raspberry Pi 5

The Raspberry Pi 5 represents the biggest upgrade ever to the Raspberry Pi family of single board computers. It packs in a faster 64-bit quad-core Arm processor running at 2.4GHz, an upgraded VideoCore VII GPU, support for dual 4K displays via HDMI 2.0, advanced camera interfaces, high-speed storage and connectivity options like USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet with PoE capability.

With up to 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM available, the Pi 5 can take on serious workloads like playing 4K videos on multiple web browser windows, office tasks, media playback in 4K HEVC, running a desktop OS, and more. It’s slated to start shipping to customers in late October 2023. The Raspberry Pi 5 starts at $60 for the 4GB model, making it extremely accessible for hobbyists, educators, and industrial users.

Source: Raspberry Documentation

Raspberry Pi 5 Specifications

Here are the key hardware specifications of the Raspberry Pi 5:

With its upgraded 64-bit Arm processing system, high-speed memory and connectivity options, alongside wide software support, the Raspberry Pi 5 delivers a true PC-like experience in a compact single-board computer format.

s a premium and more polished product overall. Now let’s look at what has changed…

Let’s See What is New in Raspberry Pi 5

The long-time-waiting Raspberry Pi 5 introduces a ton of new features and upgrades compared to previous models like the popular Raspberry Pi 4. Let’s look at the key improvements and new updates Raspberry Pi 5 is shipped with:

Overview of Processor Upgrade

The Pi 5’s new processor is a huge upgrade over the Cortex-A72 based quad-core SoCs used on the Pi 3 and Pi 4 models. The 64-bit Cortex-A76 architecture is much more modern with improved instructions per clock (IPC) and power efficiency. Coupled with the clock speed boost to 2.4GHz, it provides exceptional CPU muscle for desktop workloads.

RP1 I/O Controller

Unlike previous models, the Pi 5 uses an all-new custom RP1 input/output controller designed by Raspberry Pi engineers. This replaces components like the SPI slave and clock driver in older Pis.

The key benefit of RP1 is it allows for significantly more power delivery to the USB and display interfaces.

USB 3.0 Speed Boost

Thanks to the dedicated RP1 chip, the dual USB 3.0 ports can transfer data faster, achieving speeds up to 5 Gbps. This makes it ideal for attaching fast external SSD drives.

High-Resolution Displays

The Pi 5 supports two independent 4K 60Hz displays via the micro HDMI ports, allowing up to 4K resolution per display. This makes it feasible to use the Pi 5 with dual 4K monitors for maximum workspace flexibility.

Triple Display Output

With dual HDMI and dual MIPI DSI interfaces, the RPi 5 can theoretically support three displays simultaneously. However, one display output might need a lower resolution. Still, this level of video output significantly improves its capabilities as a desktop replacement.

No More Power Cable Removal!

A minor but welcome addition is the dedicated power button instead of the old “unplug power to turn off” method! Now you can safely shut down the Pi will a single press.

USB-C Power

Speaking of power, the Pi 5 is powered by a USB Type-C connector that delivers more power than the micro USB port in older models. It still needs a 5V input but the minimum current rating is now 3A for base usage and 5A for full utilization.

So you will need a higher capacity USB-C cable and adapter. But it allows the Pi to better sustain peak loads without browning out.

Real-Time Clock Module

The on-board RTC module allows the Pi to keep accurate dates and times without relying on network connectivity. With a coin battery plugged in, you don’t need to set time for every reboot!

###Cryptography Extensions This is going to be a big one for cybersecurity professionals…

The BCM2711C0 SoC in the RPi 5 comes with dedicated cryptography extensions. This hardware acceleration is used to enable faster and more secure cryptography workloads.

This has applications in fields like defense, financial tech, identification systems, etc where data security is paramount. It also makes the Pi great for encryption-related DIY projects.

Thermal Considerations

The improved performance does result in higher thermal output compared to Pi 4 – around 15W peak vs 10W max on Pi 4. Proper cooling is essential, especially if you want to overclock.

The provided heatsinks along with a fan should keep temps at a safe level for most users. But those running extensive workloads might need more active cooling solutions. So keep an eye out!

The Pi 5 polishes off the package with smart quality-of-life enhancements while retaining broad compatibility.

Refer to this table for precise compassion:

In summary, the Pi 5 brings upgrades across the board from processor and memory to connectivity, display outputs, multimedia decode, and advanced camera support. It is a huge generational leap over the 3-year-old Raspberry Pi 4 design.

RPi 5 Benchmark Performance

In terms of real-world performance, how much better is the Pi 5 compared to previous models like the Raspberry Pi 4?

CPU benchmarks show a 1.8x to 2x increase in performance over the Pi 4, thanks to the upgraded ARM cortex cores. Of course, actual speedup depends on whether the workload leverages the extra cores and hardware encryption engines effectively.

For reference, the Pi 5 received a score of 1963 in single-thread GeekBench testing. The multiprocessing score is 6390 which highlights significant gains in parallel workloads.

Note that the stock clock speed of 2.4 GHz can boost up to 3 GHz with adequate cooling provisions. So there is headroom for even faster speeds with overclocking!

Ideal Use Cases for RPi 5

We have covered the hardware and performance improvements. But when should you consider getting the new Pi 5?

Here are some of the ideal applications and use cases where the Raspberry Pi 5 would be a great fit:

Desktop Replacement

The improved USB and ethernet speeds make the RPi 5 a lot more suitable as an everyday desktop PC replacement for common tasks like web browsing, office apps, media playback etc.

Multimedia Center

With support for multiple 4K displays and better video decoding via VLC hardware acceleration, the Pi 5 is ideal for building home multimedia solutions like Kodi home theater PCs.

Web Servers

The gigabit ethernet port along with faster file transfer speeds make this an excellent web and database server for lightweight applications.

Docker Host

The boosted CPU and RAM capacity allows comfortably running docker containers that were sluggish on Pi 4. So it’s great for developers to use as a docker host for trying out projects.

Machine Learning

The extra compute muscle also suits the RPi 5 for AI and machine learning experiments, when coupled with dedicated hardware like Google Coral boards.

Programming IDE Rig

For coders looking for a portable programming rig, the Pi 5 has enough juice to handle code compiling, simulations, running VMs/emulators etc.

Network Monitoring

The cryptography engine enables tapping into encrypted network streams securely for network monitoring systems.

Pen Testing Rig

For cybersecurity researchers, the Pi 5 is ideal for building pen testing rigs with Kali Linux or other pentest distros.

Bottom Line

The Raspberry Pi 5 brings some major upgrades over previous models of the popular Pi family of single board computers. With 2-3x faster performance, upgraded multimedia capabilities, new connectivity options like USB 3.0 and PCIe, dual 4K display outputs, advanced camera support, and more, it’s an exciting new Pi!

It packs the power of a desktop-class processor from Arm into a compact board under $100, enabling a wide range of new applications from consumers to industrial users. The Pi line continues to evolve and improve with each new generation.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has managed to deliver its most powerful and versatile model yet while retaining the accessibility, hackability, and price point that made the Pi popular worldwide. The Raspberry Pi 5 looks very promising and we can’t wait to get our hands on it!

So that wraps up our first look at the new features and upgrades introduced in the Raspberry Pi 5. We hope you enjoyed this overview of the exciting new capabilities of the latest model in the Raspberry Pi family. Let us know if you have any other questions about the Pi 5 and what you plan to build with it!

We hope this post helps you learn about the brand new Raspberry Pi 5 and what is there in the new Raspberry Pi 5. Thanks for reading this tutorial post. Visit our website thesecmaster.com and social media page on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Telegram, Tumblr, Medium & Instagram, and subscribe to receive updates like this.

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